The two sides are in contrasting form heading into the tie – Leinster have only lost one game from seven while Bath are yet to win a game, losing nine times in a row to start their season.

The Irish provincial outfit’s form is down to the synergy they have nurtured over the years, and now with a full squad at their disposal at all times of the year, they are reaping the rewards of their past rotations.

The forwards are currently outscoring the backs by 21 tries to nine for the Pro14 champions, but are doing so because they are joining attacking phases in wide positions – for example, hooker Dan Sheehan’s try against Connacht.

Bath, on the other hand, have leaked tries and it’s clear that their chemistry is not up to scratch, especially when holes appear in the defensive line several times in every game that they have played.

They have conceded 297 points so far this season – an average of 33 per game – and 142 of those points came inside two games against Gloucester and Saracens, but Leinster have never scored more than 56 against their upcoming opponent.

However, Bath are good at breaking through opposition lines themselves and their attack has benefitted from this – their 18 carries per line break is joint-third-highest in the Gallagher Premiership.

Three Leinster players have contracted Covid-19 and will be unavailable to line out for their team as a result but a strong team was named nonetheless.

Six Bath players will earn their Champions Cup debuts on this season’s opening weekend.

Teams

Leinster

15. Hugo Keenan (35)
14. Jordan Larmour (66)
13. Garry Ringrose (91)
12. Ciarán Frawley (41)
11. James Lowe (56)
10. Ross Byrne (110)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (105)

1. Andrew Porter (81)
2. Rónan Kelleher (29)
3, Tadhg Furlong (117)
4. Ross Molony (122)
5. Ryan Baird (33)
6. Rhys Ruddock (195) CAPTAIN
7. Josh van der Flier (103)
8. Caelan Doris (44)

Replacements:

16. Dan Sheehan (18)
17. Cian Healy (237)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (6)
19. Devin Toner (270)
20. Max Deegan (70)
21. Luke McGrath (157)
22. Jimmy O’Brien (37)
23. Tommy O’Brien (12)

Bath

Odds

Leinster 1/200

Draw 70/1

Bath 35/1

Where To Watch

The game will be televised on BT Sport and beIN Sports. Coverage starts at 3 pm.

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What’s most interesting about the provincial pack’s season so far is their attacking output – as it stands, they’re outscoring the club’s backs by two to one (21-9).

The reasons for this involve several factors – for example, where they are positioned and how they operate set-pieces.

Hooker Dan Sheehan’s latest effort against Connacht underlines how forwards have developed in today’s game – the number two received the ball out wide and stepped Mack Hansen to get a clear run to the try line. Anyone that used Sky Bet sign up offer to back Leinster -30 collected the 5/1.

The multi-faceted ability of their forwards has only made Leinster a more dangerous threat to their opponents and fullback Hugo Keenan is happy to see his teammates perform so well.

“It’s brilliant – sure they’re scoring our tries for us,” Keenan exclaimed. “Dan Sheehan will be taking our jobs soon out on the wing.

“It’s great to have that talent in the pack. There’s some serious athletes coming through now and it definitely adds a different dynamic to the team and we’re lucky to have it.”

“The list goes on of lads that are in that category as well – it doesn’t happen just for no reason – it’s the work they do in training, the work they do in the gym and, yeah, it’s great to see that it’s paying off now.”

Keenan has noted that the growth of forwards such as Sheehan and flanker Josh Van Der Flier has changed the way he approaches an attack.

Van Der Flier has been dubbed ‘Van Der Flier 2.0’ in recent times as the Wicklow forward has greatly improved his ball-carrying ability in the last year, offering a strong threat with the ball in his hands as well as at the breakdown.

“He’s doing incredible, isn’t he? He’s such a hard worker, you see it in training everyday – he’s a bit of a student game, isn’t he?

“He’s improving so much and any feedback he gets from coaches, he’s so good at taking it on board and learning from it. He’s finding himself out in the wide channels a bit more so he’s working with the outside backs a bit and it’s paying dividends, isn’t it? He’s playing great rugby.”

Several Leinster forwards tend to find themselves in a wide position on phased attacking play, with number eight Jack Conan and hookers Sheehan and Rónan Kelleher being the usual suspects in this case.

In particular, the back row as a unit are known to find themselves in these sort of attacking positions – the likes of Caelan Doris and Dan Leavy can also be seen out wide on occasion.

The development only follows the trend in Leinster of mobile forwards, with those already mentioned serving as fine examples of what to expect from one.

Leinster forwards coach Robin McBryde described them as ‘modern-day forwards’ when speaking about the attacking impact several Leinster pack members had for Ireland last month.

Keenan, who has played full back for Ireland since making his debut last year, has said that he finds himself getting on the shoulder of the Leinster forwards more often.

“I think it’s not just [Van Der Flier], it’s about everyone flooding those channels when there’s a bit of a break.

“I think it was Mike Ala’alaatoa who got on the shoulder of Josh and then Ringer (Garry Ringrose) on Mike’s shoulders.

“That’s always positive to see and it’s something that Felipe (Contepomi) would be big on – winning those races and getting into that space.

“I think it is something that [Van Der Flier’s] improved and people are naturally trying to run off him now but it’s across the board as well.”

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The two 23-year-old hookers have had ample game time to show off their qualities this season and it seems that they are of a similar mould.

Dan Sheehan’s fantastic try (his fourth of the season for Leinster) against Connacht where he stepped Mack Hansen to send himself into a pocket of clear air with the try line in sight is reminiscent of what Kelleher brings to the game for both club and country.

Sheehan’s very presence in the wide channel to receive the ball draws similarities to how his fellow hooker plays and offers a glimpse into the future of Irish rugby.

Leinster assistant coach Stuart Lancaster is well aware of the depth of talent the side has at their disposal in the central front row position.

“There’s some very good, athletic forwards in the Leinster pack now,” Lancaster said. “Ronan [Kelleher] and Dan [Sheehan] are two players who epitomise what we want from our forwards – you know, good ball handlers, physical, abrasive, fit and they can play hooker but they can play multiple positional roles in phased attack and phased defence.”

Kelleher has often been seen in the same spot on a rugby pitch as Sheehan was on Friday, and with 29 carries to his name in just 164 minutes for Ireland during the Autumn Nations Series last month (14 against New Zealand), is clearly an attacking threat for any side he lines out for.

Sheehan, who only made his debut for Leinster last season, only has 313 minutes under his belt in competitive fixtures for the Pro 14 champions but has impressive attacking stats too – 187 metres from 58 carries among them.

With only 55 minutes to his name in green, Sheehan has looked the part, making 53 metres from a mere 11 carries in that time – an average of 4.82 metres per carry.

On top of this, their stats for the traditional roles of a hooker are impressive too – Kelleher missed only one lineout throw against both New Zealand and Argentina from 15 while Sheehan was perfect from 10 in the Autumn Internationals.

Their multi-faceted talents fall in line with what the province’s forwards coach Robin McBryde said about the ‘modern-day forward’ last month.

The competitiveness and experience that Leinster and Ireland veteran Sean Cronin and James Tracy has helped the two young hookers grow into the players they are today.

“It’s great to have [Kelleher and Sheehan] and they’ve got two very good hookers in, you know, James Tracy and Sean Cronin to learn from as well so it’s not like those two have just fallen away – they’re as competitive as the two lads.”

Lancaster is thrilled to see both Kelleher and Sheehan in such good form at the moments after watching their journey for several years but insists there is still work to be done.

“It’s great to see both come through – I’ve watched them both come from fourth-choice and being on the periphery and frustrated they’re not getting opportunities to force their way through to become first and second choice, in whatever order you pick them.

“There’s a lot of hard work gone into what they’ve achieved and a lot of credit must go to the two lads in particular but also to James and Sean for pushing them so hard as well.

“It’s a good position to be in, they’re both exciting players, but they’ve both got a lot to learn still and, you know, we’ll keep their feet on the ground for sure.”

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Scrum-half Gibson Park has been sidelined with a thigh injury since Ireland’s win over New Zealand last month.

The number nine is set to make his return to the Leinster 23 in the same ground, the Aviva Stadium, this weekend.

Flanker Dan Leavy has also returned to full training having come through the Graduated Return to Play Protocols after suffering an injury 20 minutes into the recent loss to Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.

Centre Rory O’Loughlin has also returned to full training this week having recovered from a shoulder injury, while back-rower Max Deegan got through the Connacht game without any issues.

Lock James Ryan is continuing to comply with World Rugby protocols while training with the team.

Ryan is seeing an independent concussion consultant as part of his return to competitive action.

His fellow Irish internationals Jack Conan and Leinster and national captain Johnny Sexton will increase their workload in training this week and be further assessed before a final decision is made on their recoveries.

Loosehead prop Cian Healy, who was substituted against Connacht as a precaution, will also be assessed ahead of the Champions Cup clash with Bath.

Leinster and Ireland openside flanker Will Connors is back on the injury list after picking up a hamstring issue in training last week.

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The two teams will face each other at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh with kick-off at 3:00 pm.

Six Irish players are included in the starting XV – Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw. You can use your Coral Promo Code and back The Lions at 2/1 to win the tour in South Africa.

It is the highest amount of players in the XV from any of the four national teams of Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.

Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong is on the bench, bringing the total of Irish players in the 23 to seven.

Tour Captain Alun Wyn Jones= takes the armband for the side’s first warm-up test.

Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson give a Scottish feel to the front row while the back row includes Beirne and Conan alongside Hamish Watson.

Conor Murray and Dan Biggar are the starting inside-back pairing with Irish centres Aki and Henshaw beside them.

Duhan Van Der Merwe, Josh Adams and Liam Williams round off the XV.

Furlong, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and Anthony Watson are among those on the bench.

The game will be available to watch on Channel 4 in Ireland and the UK with coverage starting at 2:15 pm.

British and Irish Lions 1888 Cup Squad

Backs

15. Liam Williams (Wales/Scarlets)

14. Josh Adams (Wales/Cardiff Blues)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland/Leinster)

12. Bundee Aki (Ireland/Connacht)

11. Duhan Van Der Merwe (Scotland/Edinburgh)

10. Dan Biggar (Wales/Northampton Saints)

9. Conor Murray (Ireland/Munster)

Forwards

1. Rory Sutherland (Scotland/Edinburgh)
2. Ken Owens (Wales/Scarlets)
3. Zander Fagerson (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors)
4. Iain Henderson (Ireland/Ulster)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales/Ospreys)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland/Munster)
7. Hamish Watson (Scotland/Edinburgh)
8. Jack Conan (Ireland/Leinster)

Bench

16. Jamie George (England/Saracens)

17. Wyn Jones (Wales/Scarlets)

18. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland/Leinster)

19. Courtney Lawes (England/Northampton Saints)

20. Taulupe Faletau (Wales/Bath)

21. Ali Price (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors)

22. Owen Farrell (England/Saracens)

23. Anthony Watson (England/Bath)

Match Review

Chris Farrell opened Ireland’s account with a try after Yu Tamura’s early penalty. Japan responded when Michael Leitch touched down after the visitors mauled over for a try.

Stuart McCloskey then gave Ireland a 12-10 lead after Joey Carbery started an attack with a clever chip, but Japan continued to attack in waves and Timothy Lafaele got over after a free-flowing move.

Finlay Bealham responded for Ireland just before half-time with a try and they took a 19-17 lead into the break.

Siosaia Fifita was next to touch down after the break as Japan came out all guns blazing. It was tit-for-tat as Josh van der Flier then got an Ireland try to put Farrell’s men 26-24 ahead.

Jacob Stockdale was next to notch a try for Ireland but Japan rallied with a late try from Naoto Saito. A Joey Carbery penalty opened up an eight-point lead and Ireland held on for the win.

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